“I think the president has elevated hateful rhetoric across the country to such a degree that it’s emboldening certain people to come out and say those types of things,” Martínez told NM Political Report, adding that he is not surprised by the letter.

Still, he says that recent news on immigration keeps the letter in perspective.

“This does not compare to the fear, the very real fear that immigrant communities feel across the state and across the nation,” Martínez said.

He said that many of those being detained haven’t committed any crime beyond crossing the border without documentation.

While he was born in the United States and has lived here for years, Martínez grew up in Ciudad Juárez until the age of 8.

“The border is very much a place where you move back and forth,” he said.

Martínez is in his second term as a state representative and faced no competition in either the primary or general election this year.

Martínez said late last year he would be “looking very closely” at running for Congress in the state’s 1st Congressional District. The current representative, Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham, will be leaving the seat to run for governor in 2018.

“I’m very proud of my Mexican roots, I’m very proud of my immigrant roots and I’m proud to be an American citizen,” Martínez said.

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A mosque in Clovis was vandalized with graffiti this weekend, purportedly by "A real christian." "Happy Birthday Jesus Christ from a real christian” was written in spray paint on The Golden Mosque in Clovis, NM.

The state Senate narrowly approved a bill Thursday that would require just about anyone buying a firearm to undergo a background check. This legislation has been a priority for gun control advocates, but all 16 Republicans and four Democrats in the Senate said it would not prevent the sort of mass shootings that have spurred calls for such laws.

All week, we look for stories that help New Mexicans better understand what’s happening with water, climate, energy, landscapes and communities around the region. Thursday morning, that news goes out via email.

When it comes to legalizing cannabis for recreational use, those responsible for running state government have a warning for lawmakers: Not so fast. The proposed legislation calls for the state to begin licensing retailers as soon as January 2020.

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The state House of Representatives approved a $7 billion budget on Thursday, sending to the Senate a plan for the next fiscal year that would provide nearly half a billion dollars in additional funds for public schools but which Republicans say amounts to an outsize increase in government spending.

Matthew Reichbach is the editor of the NM Political Report. The former founder and editor of the NM Telegram, Matthew was also a co-founder of New Mexico FBIHOP with his brother and one of the original hires at the groundbreaking website the New Mexico Independent. Matthew has covered events such as the Democratic National Convention and Netroots Nation and formerly published, “The Morning Word,” a daily political news summary for NM Telegram and the Santa Fe Reporter.
Matthew has appeared as a panelist for the Society of Professional Journalists’ New Mexico Chapter’s panel on covering New Mexico politics and the legislature.
A native New Mexican from Rio Rancho, Matthew’s family has been in New Mexico since the 1600s.